Students face solicitors inside residence halls
Junior history major Andrew Helbig said he wants door-to-door marketers to disappear.
During a coffee break two weeks ago, Helbig said he encountered two students peddling credit card applications door-to-door in Manchester Hall.
“They confronted me and asked me if I was interested in signing up for a credit card,” he said. “I told them I’ve already received numerous offers from credit card companies.”
Helbig said he was angry about their intrusion.
“I hate how they solicit their business, trying to prey on college students,” he said. Helbig said he later discovered the students lived in residence halls.
Solicitation is not allowed in the residence halls, said Amy Quillin, Residence Services associate director.
“If a student is soliciting materials, he or she could be written up,” Quillin said. “It depends on the student’s judicial affairs history or the severity of the situation.”
Had the situation involved a solicitor from a non-residence hall location, the solicitor would be escorted off the premises as well, Quillin said.
“Security does rounds, and resident assistants are on duty,” she said. “However, residents need to police the area in which they live in.”
Quillin said resident assistants and hall staff enforce the rules, but residents need to be aware of the comings and goings of others. The problem is heightened when residents leave doors open.
“Security measures are jeopardized if the residents don’t know who’s coming behind them,” Quillin said.
She also urged awareness of solicitors.
“If you see someone soliciting something, address him or her. Call the area desk, the RA, or the residence hall director,” she said. “If the peddler refuses to cooperate with the RA, then call the police.”
Contact general assignment reporter Josh Echt at [email protected].